One Direction accused of ‘enticing Jihad’

One Direction’s Zayn Malik has been accused of “enciting jihad” and “pimping Islam” to young female fans in a savage online attack.

US right wing blogger Debbie Schlussel warned parents to “keep their daughters away” from the teen singer, whose band are currently on tour in the US, reports The Sun.

She said that the 19 year-old popstar had posted tweets about Ramadan and Allah, adding: “The scary thing is that millions of girls in America and around the world are infatuated with the members of One Direction, including Malik…He knows the power he has over these mindless girls and is using that influence to preach the Islamic faith. It’s dangerous.”

She added: “With the boy band One Direction, it’s all about pimping Islam amid the deceptive visage of angelic, effeminate boys in a band.”

US screenwriter, attorney and journalist Wajahat Ali hit back at the wild claims, stating: “What we have seen in the last 10 years is that you can be an artist who is Muslim and can be practicing and doing art that is inspired by your beliefs, but does not have to be overtly Islamic or using religious language.” He added:

A guy like Zayn Malik can really help open those minds and convey that as a generation we are moving ahead.